Scotland's Dean Robertson fired a brilliant 10-under-par course record 62 to claim the lead after the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
Robertson carded 10 birdies and no bogeys in his first competitive round of the year for a threestroke cushion over Preston's Paul Eales at Houghton Golf Club in Johannesburg.
Seven players were tied for third a further stroke behind including English quartet Justin Rose, Greg Owen, Paul Broadhurst and Steve Webster along with Scotland's Stephen Gallacher.
Paul McGinley is the best of the Irish challenge after an opeing round of five under-par 67 while David Higgins made a solid start with a three under-par 69. James Loughnane, who is based in South Africa, carded a 71 but Peter Lawrie, who came through the qualifying rounds last weekend disappointed with a four-over-par 76.
However, the day belonged firmly to the 30-year-old from Paisley thanks to a putting display he described as easily his finest ever.
"I'm absolutely delighted," said Robertson, the 1999 Italian Open champion.
"The first day of the new year you don't really set yourself any expectations as you have no form, and in the pro-am my game wasn't in that good shape as it was my first full round since November.
"But I was in the mental attitude of taking what you get and I holed absolutely everything. It was certainly the finest putting display I've ever had on a golf course - I had 22 putts and it could have been 18."
